Trollheart

Wow, US! Considering you know the album and band so well, I'm surprised that most of what you said ties in with how I found the album --- weak opening tracks, crappy instrumental, strong closer but sounds like the penultimate track --- which makes me feel that I really "got" this album. I was sure you were going to say maybe I need to listen to Kansas more, or something, but it seems like we mostly agree. For someone who has been listening to the band for what thirty years or so, and another who has only really heard one other album, that's quite remarkable really.

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Unknown Soldier

Now and again opinions can be spot on. The first six studio albums are all very good listens, you'd enjoy all of them.

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Pounding Decibels- A Hard and Heavy History

Anteater

1.What were your VERY FIRST impressions on listening to the album, say from the first five minutes in?

Supah pompy!

2. What did you think of the opening tracks?

Opening title track is a classic slice of 70's FM-friendly prog, and 'Paradox' and 'The Spider' are nice even if they aren't quite as iconic.

3. What did you think of the later tracks?

'Dust In The Wind' has been overplayed and overexposed to the point of parody at this point, but relistening through these latter cuts has given me a greater appreciation for 'Closet Chronicles' and 'Hopelessly Human'. Not bad, but still not too memorable for me.

4. Did you like the vocalist? Hate him/her? Any impressions?

I've never been much of a Walsh fan, but his performance throughout POKR melds with the rest of the band's playing than it has on pre-Leftoverture material.

5. Did the music (only) generally appeal to you, or not?

I'll never be much of a Kansas fan (and never have been either), but this record is one of the very few in their catalog of work that actually nails it on occasion.

6. Did the album get better or worse as you listened to it (first time)?

It was a consistent listen for me from start to finish back when I first got my grubby paws upon it, and that impression of it holds true even now.

7. What did you think of the lyrical content?

Socially conscious would be an understatement I suppose: this is one aspect of the record I actually could see myself revisiting after today.

8. Did you like the instrumental parts?

Walsh is pretty boring on his own, so I'd say if you aren't listening for the instrumental performance, you aren't listening to the right album!

9. What did you think of the production?

Solid as a rock. Nothing too high or low in the mix: every element is balanced and serviceable.

10. How well do you already know the band/artist?

I'm a proghead, so I'd say more than a passing acquaintance lol.

11. What sub-genre, if any, would you assign this music to?

Classic progressive rock, with a few AOR and folk sub-elements tossed in.

12. On repeated listens, did you find you liked the album more, or less?

Neither. Take that for what you will.

13. What would you class as your favourite track, if you have one?

The title track.

14. And the one you liked least?

'Paradox'. Sounds like a poor man's Gentle Giant!

15. Did the fact that this album is a debut allow it, in your mind, any leeway, and if so, was that decision justified or vindicated? (Note: if the album is or was NOT a debut, ignore this question or put "n/a")

N/A.

16. Are you now looking forward to hearing other albums by the band/artist?

Probably not, seeing as Kansas have never worked that well for me aesthetically.

17. Did you get, thematically, the idea behind the album if there was one?

I'm assuming there's some Christian allegory buried somewhere in there, but I couldn't be bothered to really care much either way.

18. Did the album end well?

'Helplessly Human' is a nice proggy end to a very proggy album.

19. Do you see any way the album could have been improved?

Maybe a more distinctive vocalist than Steve Walsh? Hard to say really...

20. Do you think the album hung together well, ie was a fully cohesive unit, or was it a bit hit-and-miss?

Between Leftoverture and this particular record, I don't think Kansas have ever done a more cohesive set of songs than we we get here. That being said, Kansas have never really worked for me sonically: they aren't catchy or slick enough on the whole to be a good AOR band and they aren't interesting or truly atmospheric enough on the instrumental side of things to really tickle my prog sensibilities either.

I'm aware that the band will always have its loyalists, but the real problem here is that nothing they've ever done has knocked me on my ass like Yes, Genesis or Gentle Giant did when I first got into them. I think is due to the fact that Walsh and friends have never really sounded (at least to these ears) like a band who were ever that comfortable in their own skin. Their tendency to go for the heartland rock iconography doesn't gel that well with their more progressive leanings, and it's always made them a hard sell for me. It's a shame, but they never transcend their trappings to become something more than they could be, which is why we never got a song as good as 'Siberian Khatru' from them despite some good ideas lurking throughout their 70's material.

I'd tell anyone looking for American progressive rock where you can literally hear the pieces falling into place to check out Starcastle, Styx and Ambrosia respectively. Walsh and co., unfortunately, have always sounded like a poor man's amalgamation of all those bands to me in the past, and going through the album again only reinforces this perception for me. Sorry, but no dice!

Overall Album Rating: 6.5 out of 10.

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Unknown Soldier

@Anteater
Interesting view of the album and band, whilst I don't agree with it I certainly respect your opinion as it's one of the most informed on here when it comes to prog, AOR and other rarities. Kansas are really an acquired taste, as I don't imagine many people getting excited over the idea of mixing an American boogie sound with British based prog, but isn't that what prog is all about anyway pushing boundaries? I know you tend to like the more polished and poppier side of AOR as well, to my polished and rockier side, so maybe that's another aspect worth considering as well in your review. In fact nearly all your negatives on the band are actually why I like them!

I've never ever seen Starcastle and Ambrosia mentioned anywhere before on this forum and I myself haven't heard these band in an age, so thanks for reminding me. As for Styx one of my all time favourite bands so no complaints on mentioning them.

I'd like to see you either do a new AOR journal or extend the one you did, so I can pick its bones!

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Metal Wars

Power Metal

Pounding Decibels- A Hard and Heavy History

Anteater

Well shucks, thank you for the praise! And don't get me wrong either: I have a solid respect for Kansas and their place in the echelon, but of all of the various classic and crossover "Triple-AAA" progressives, they're probably the weakest on the songwriting front. That being said, I like some of what Livgren has done here and there, so in that sense I've given the Kansas family a fair shot.

I'm actually considering doing a new AOR journal or some kind of thread here at some point that seeks to look into the "crossover" acts. AKA, bands and specific albums that melded progressive sensibilities into other avenues particularly well. I'm only aware of so much though, so I'll be encouraging people to send me album recommendations on top of what I choose to review on my own.

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Trollheart

All right guys, I think we're done with Kansas (anyone who says "Guess we're not in Kansas anymore" gets a slap!) so whoever's up next, what up? I need some new prog to review!

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Anteater

I think I'm next, so lets see...I'll give you guys two options for the sake of variety.

The first is my answer to Kansas.


Ambrosia - S/T (1975)


The second comes from one of Sweden's modern progressive rock superstars, though some of ya'll may be familiar with them already. Think Yes meets power pop wunderkinds like Todd Rundgren and Jellyfish with some Bruce Springsteen and Beatles thrown in.


Moon Safari - Lover's End (2010)

I can provide links to either of these records via Mediafire to anyone who needs them, so take your pick gentlemen.

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Anteater's 21 Fav Albums Of 2020

Anteater's Daily Tune Roulette

Unknown Soldier

Ambrosia

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Metal Wars

Power Metal

Pounding Decibels- A Hard and Heavy History

Electrophonic Tonic

Ambrosia

Trollheart

I rather like Moon Safari, but I'll go with the majority, whatever they decide.

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